126 BR. J. EST. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994 



small area (12). The central areas include some planted copses of sallows and other 

 trees and provide shelter for many insects. The greater pan of the open areas was 

 mown for hay in July 1993 and has produced little of interest, but an unmown fringe 

 (14) dominated by thistles near the river supports a good number of insects. 



At the south end of Mortimer's Meadows, between the small area of carr and drier 

 woodland (15) and the river, there is an area of varied tall marsh vegetation, which 

 has a diverse flora (16) (Tig. 7). Although this area too becomes dry in the summer, 

 it has retained a good range of insects from the time when all the fields adjoining 

 the river were grazed watermeadows and the adjoining carr provides shelter for 

 woodland species. 



The higher plants of the park were surveyed in 1993, augmenting an earlier list 

 drawn up 10 years ago and there are plant lists for all the different areas, about 300 

 species having been recorded altogether. This remarkable diversity of habitats has 

 enabled the large number of Diptera species found to survive despite all the changes 

 in land use and the public pressure that is currently inevitable. The Country" Park 

 authorities agreed to take invertebrate conservation into account in the management 

 plan being drawn up during 1994 and it is hoped that the next few years will see 

 knowledge of all groups of insects in the area significantly increasing. 



BENHS FIELD MEETING 



Dinton Pastures, Berkshire, 21 May 1994 



Leader: David Young. No doubt the meteorological records for 1994 will record 

 yet another cold and wet spring, which was typified by the date chosen for this field 

 meeting. Perversely the heavy rain and strong wind both stopped during the early 

 evening and, with the temperature not unreasonable, five m.v. traps were run in the 

 general area of the fishermen's car park on the western side of the country park. 

 Unfortunately heavy and persistent rain returned soon after dark and the three 

 members, and two guests, present had to work hard for the modest list of Lepidoptera 

 species recorded. 



Despite soaking wet foliage an attempt was made to beat for larvae. This effort 

 quickly produced a fully grown larva of Strymonidia w-album (Knoch) beaten from 

 hedgerow elm (Ulmus sp.), an interesting record both in terms of species recorded 

 at Dinton Pastures and in view of the article by Peter Baker on the status of this 

 species in north-west Surrey (Br. J. Ent. Nat. Hist. 1994; 7: 25). Other larvae recorded 

 included Operophtera brumata (L.), Apocheima pilosaria (D. & S.), Erannis defoliaria 

 (CI.) and Cosmia trapezina (L.). 



Moths recorded at m.v. light were: Hepialus lupulinus (L.), Adela reaumurella (L.), 

 Elachista argentella (CI.), Esperia sulphurella (F.), Syndemis musculana (Htibn.), 

 Olethreutes lacunana (D. & S), Epiblema cynosbatella (L.), Xanthorhoe spadicearia 

 (D. & S), Xanthorhoe ferrugata (CI.), Xanthorhoe montanata (D. & S.), Chloroclysta 

 truncata (Hufn.), Tftera obeliscata (Htibn.), Plagodis dolabraria (L.), Opisthograptis 

 luteolata (L.), Biston betularia (L.), Cabera exanthemata (Scop.), Lomographa 

 temerata (D. & S.), Mimas tiliae (L.), Laothoe populi (L.), Furcula furcula (CI.), 

 Pterostoma palpina (CI.), Agrotis puta (Htibn.), Ochropleura plecta (L.), Diarsia 

 rubi (View), Charancyca trigrammica (Hufn.). 



